Belissa Rugamba, HBSc

Belissa Rugamba is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at MindSpa Mental Health Centre. She sees clients in person at the Kanata and Gloucester clinics in Ottawa, and virtually anywhere in Ontario. She practises under clinical supervision while completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She also brings a strong scientific foundation to her work, with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and minors in Mental Health and African Studies from the University of Toronto.

She mainly supports young adults facing the pressures of this stage of life. That includes big transitions, relationship challenges, low self-esteem and questions of identity. She also works with clients experiencing anxiety, the effects of trauma and emotional overwhelm.

Clients working with Belissa can expect a warm, collaborative, person-centred space where they feel heard and understood. Belissa offers reduced-rate sessions and a limited number of pro bono spots, making her an accessible option for anyone looking for quality mental health care in Ottawa or virtual therapy in Ontario. She also offers a free introductory consultation so new clients can connect with her before committing to ongoing sessions.

Meet Belissa

“I believe therapy works best when you feel safe enough to be completely yourself. My goal is to create that space: somewhere you can slow down, say what’s really going on, and be met with understanding instead of judgment.

My background in neuroscience shapes how I see the people I work with. So much of what we experience, like anxiety, feeling stuck or old patterns that keep repeating, makes sense when we understand how the mind and body respond to stress and experience. I like helping clients see that there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with them. There are reasons behind how they feel, and there are ways forward.

I especially enjoy working with young adults, because this stage of life is full of pressure and possibility at the same time. Whether you’re navigating a transition, a relationship or questions about who you are, you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’ll work together, at your pace, toward the changes that matter most to you.”

How Belissa Can Help

Young Adult Therapy & Life Transitions

Early adulthood brings a lot of firsts: leaving home, starting post-secondary or a career, forming serious relationships and working out who you are. Belissa helps young adults manage academic and career pressure, family expectations, loneliness, self-doubt and the feeling that everyone else has it figured out.

Anxiety Therapy

Worry, racing thoughts, poor sleep or avoiding things that feel overwhelming. Using CBT and mindfulness-based strategies, Belissa helps clients understand what drives their anxiety and build practical coping skills. Read her guide, Why Your Brain Feels Anxious.

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Support that puts safety, choice and pacing first, so clients can make sense of difficult experiences and begin to heal.

Belissa also supports:

• Self-esteem: self-criticism, people-pleasing and perfectionism
• Emotional regulation: noticing, naming and responding to strong emotions in steadier ways
• Identity & self-discovery: values, culture, belonging and direction
• Relationships: conflict, boundaries and breakups with friends, family or partners

Therapeutic Approach

Belissa draws mainly on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and person-centred therapy within a trauma-informed framework, adding mindfulness-based strategies and psychoeducation depending on each client’s needs. She builds on the resilience clients already have, respects their pace, and uses her neuroscience background to help them understand the “why” behind their experiences.

Therapeutic Modalities

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) • Person-Centred Therapy • Trauma-Informed Care • Mindfulness-Based Strategies • Psychoeducation • Strengths-Based Practice

Education & Registration

• Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, CRPO #23721 (CRPO public register)
• Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP), Candidate, Yorkville University
• Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc), Specialist in Neuroscience, Minors in Mental Health and African Studies, University of Toronto
• Practises under the clinical supervision of Tina Wilston, M.Ed., RP

Listen to Belissa

Belissa co-hosts Creation Revealed, a podcast she started with her sister in 2024. Together they talk openly about the transitions, comparison and pressures of your twenties, and how psychology can help make sense of them. It’s a great way to get a feel for how Belissa thinks before booking a session.

Listen to Creation Revealed

Written by Belissa

Areas Served

Belissa welcomes clients from across the Ottawa region, including Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Nepean, Orléans, Gloucester and downtown Ottawa. Through virtual therapy across Ontario, she also works with clients in Renfrew County and communities throughout the province.

Reaching out takes courage, and you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Belissa offers a safe, supportive place to begin.

Ready to take the first step? Book a free introductory consultation with Belissa.

Belissa Rugamba, RP (Qualifying), provides individual and young adult therapy at MindSpa Mental Health Centre in Kanata and Gloucester, with virtual sessions across Ontario. She helps clients with anxiety, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem, emotional regulation, identity and relationships through a warm, person-centred, trauma-informed approach grounded in CBT.